With the support of a dedicated Hub School Coordinator, each school-community —students, families, educators, and local partners — invests in the six key practices of community schools:

Rigorous, community-connected classroom instruction

Teaching and learning in the school integrates high-quality instruction with rigorous content and real-world relevance that reflects students’ experiences, identities, the local community, and the world. The curriculum is standards-based and supports students to engage in meaningful inquiry-based learning and problem-solving.

Powerful student and family engagement

Families and students actively participate in the school’s decision-making. They are partners in setting goals and shaping the school’s culture, policies, and programs through strong partnerships. Schools become hubs providing opportunities for adults and young people.

Expanded and enriched learning opportunities

Before- and after-school, weekend, summer, and extended-day programs provide expanded time and enriched learning experiences. These opportunities are aligned with classroom instruction, connect to enrichment and cultural activities, and individualized support.

Culture of belonging, safety, and care

School staff work with students, families, and peers to foster a safe and welcoming place. Each person in the school community finds value in a rich diversity of experiences and feels encouraged to share their own views, knowledge, and culture.

Integrated systems of support

To foster well-being and a healthy learning environment, a dedicated team of school staff and community partners employ a systematic, data-based approach to services, supports, and opportunities.

Collaborative leadership, shared power and voice

Families, students, teachers, principals, and community partners co-lead work and professional learning. They share data and make decisions together through formal structures and through more informal engagement.

Boston Community Hub Schools: Lessons Learned from the Pilot Phase

Boston Community Hub Schools partnered with consulting firm Root Cause to identify lessons learned and best practices from its pilot period* that can inform future plans to increase the number of Community Hub Schools and ensure their long-term sustainability across the City of Boston. 

*School years 2019-20 through 2022-23

Here are just a few of those lessons learned: 

• Over the past few years, attendance decreased across all BPS schools — likely impacted by the pandemic. Attendance data indicates that Hub schools may be recovering faster than non-Hub schools. 
• Panorama survey data indicate that favorable responses from students about their sense of belonging, valuing of school, and safety increased between SY21-22 and SY22-23 in most Community Hub Schools. Sense of belonging is a focus across Boston Public Schools as a key driver of academic achievement. 
• While the Boston Community Hub School strategy is whole-school work, Hub School Coordinators are key change agents who help drive the work forward, especially when it comes to advancing the six key practices of community schools. For instance, they build relationships and practices that ensure Collaborative Leadership, Shared Power and Voice across the entire school community. They also secure resources and volunteers to Expand and Enrich Learning Opportunities aligned with classroom instruction. 

What’s next? 
Hub Coordinators are currently leading teams at each Hub School through the yearly Assets and Opportunities Assessments (AOAs) for their school communities. System leaders will also complete an AOA to review the strength of the supports offered to the network of Hub Schools. Findings and recommendations for the coming year will be shared  in a final report this summer. 

In Boston, we are centering our implementation around the Community Schools Forward framework developed by the Brookings Institute, National Center for Community Schools, Coalition for Community Schools, and IEL. This model builds on the four pillars of community schools and adds a direct connection to academic learning and SEL, two priority areas for BPS.